Contents Under Pressure
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by user Fornelli
Do you think the pressure may be starting to get to the Tigers?
The Tigers have now been swept in a series twice this season, both times at the hands of the White Sox. Once in Detroit and now once in Chicago.
A 10 game lead on Monday has shrunken down to a 5.5 game lead after Sunday afternoon. They have now lost their last 5 games, their longest losing streak of the season.
They don't have time to lick their wounds either. Starting Monday it's time for three games against Big Papi, Manny, Schilling and Beckett at Fenway Park. The Tigers lost 2 of 3 against the Red Sox at Comerica Park in June.
After the Red Sox it's back home to start a 4 game series against a Texas Rangers team that won its fifth consecutive game Sunday afternoon, and are absolutely killing the baseball right now.
Then, after the Rangers leave, the White Sox come back to town for a 4 game set. The Tigers are 3-9 against the White Sox this season, and in the last week the White Sox have looked more like their 2005 version.
So I ask again, do you think the pressure is starting to get to the Tigers?
A team that has been fundamentally solid all season with good pitching committed six errors in three games and were outscored by the White Sox 16-6.
Kenny Rogers is 0-3 since the All Star break.
Justin Verlander has lost about 4 MPH on his fastball, and his arm is tiring.
The Tigers just don't seem all that scary anymore. Even while the Sox had been beating them all season, they never looked as though they were being outplayed. This weekend they did.
- "We got what we deserved this weekend."
- -Tigers manager Jim Leyland
They were completely shut down on Friday by Jose Contreras, literally threw away a great game by Rogers on Saturday, and seemed tense in Sunday's 7-3 loss. Besides the way they've played this week, there's more on the minds of the Tigers.
The way the White Sox have been playing this week.
In their last 6 games the White Sox played the two teams with the best records in baseball, and went 5-1. Their starting pitching is coming back around, led by Contreras and Jon Garland. The bullpen has been lights out from the 7th inning on with Mike MacDougal (for all the crap Ken Williams has taken for his lack of trades at the deadline, how good is the MacDougal deal looking now?), Matt Thornton and Bobby Jenks - all three bring 97 MPH+ heat.
The offense has finally started delivering those clutch two-out RBI's that they were seemingly incapable of for a month. Hell, even Brian Anderson is hitting over .300 since July 1st.
Most importantly, it seems that the Sox have gotten back the swagger. Of their 5-1 run against the Yankees and Tigers, the most important game may have been the loss. After trailing 7-0 against the Yankees, they rallied late and had a chance to beat Mariano Rivera two nights in a row before falling 7-6.
The Sox had made that come of comeback earlier this season too while playing well. It seemed to be the slap in the face that made the White Sox finally remember,
"Oh crap....we're good!"
By the time next Monday rolls around and the White Sox enter Comerica Park, the AL Central could be on the line. While the Tigers play Boston and Texas, the White Sox get 4 against Kansas City and 3 against a Twins team that seems to have come back to Earth after an insane July.
So do you think the Tigers are starting to feel the pressure?
I do.
http://tomfornellisportsblog.blogspot.com
Date
Mon 08/14/06, 8:46 am EST
